Although, the socio-political situation in Pakistan presents distinct challenges compared to Bangladesh, political parties in Pakistan are grappling with security concerns during their campaigning efforts.
The situation worsened on Thursday as
multiple terrorist attacks and bomb blasts shook various cities in
Balochistan and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), resulting in numerous casualties.
According to
media reports, the majority of polling stations in KPK and Balochistan have been designated as highly sensitive due to the significant threat level. This decision comes in the wake of over 40 attacks, resulting in the deaths of 3 political leaders, 14 armed forces personnel, 6 civilians, and 52 injuries within the span of a week.
In KPK province, the terrorist organization Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) is carrying out attacks, while in Balochistan province, Baloch Militant Groups are also involved in and behind these assaults. According to media reports, within 24 hours, there were 20 attacks against the Pakistani military in Balochistan.
On social media, rumors abound suggesting the possibility of election delays or postponements in certain provinces. In this regard, Sputnik approached, Salman Javed, a senior political analyst.
The state of Pakistan, today, is grappling with severe security issues in all provinces except
Punjab, facing socio-political rifts, numerous attacks, and security challenges.
Additionally, she said, "
Pakistan's security scenario is a blend of both weak political institutions, and domination of nondemocratic forces in the political process of Pakistan domestically and foreign interference externally. As far as KPK and Baluchistan are concerned, their geographic location make them strategically very important. And we cannot expect that these 2 provinces will not be affected from what is going on in Afghanistan and Iran."On Thursday, the chairperson of Pakistan's
election commission convened a meeting to address the issue. Despite rumors circulating on social media about potential election delays in Balochistan and KPK, Caretaker Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz unequivocally stated that the elections would proceed as scheduled on February 8.
However, the persistent narrative and question arises as to why these two provinces in Pakistan suffer the most. Is it a failure of internal policies or are foreign powers involved? If foreign interference is at play, why has Pakistan been unable to contain it? Perhaps it is time for Pakistan to reevaluate its security policies.
The inquiry into who is behind these challenges is crucial: are foreign entities involved in sabotaging Pakistan's election, or is it a result of internal political dynamics, including the role of the establishment?
These pressing questions underscore the need for a comprehensive examination of the factors contributing to the security challenges in these regions.
"The need for a comprehensive reevaluation of security policies becomes apparent, with a focus on addressing both internal vulnerabilities and external machinations," in concluding remark by S.Javed.